Sometimes the “big” things are easier than the “small” things. For example, it would probably be easier for me to die for my faith than to die to myself every day by washing the dishes after lunch! So one Wednesday, I asked the Lord to give me suffering, He gave me a TON of dishes to wash.
Even though Samuel washed some, when it was my turn, I kept hoping something would happen, like that a mouse would run towards me so that I would have to wait until dad got it out of the kitchen. “Wait a minute,” I said to myself. “ I just asked for this, and now I'm complaining about it!” After I realized that I should be grateful to God for sending me so many dishes to wash, I started to be more cheerful. I did alright at first, but after a while I had to keep reminding myself that it would be a good sacrifice if I did it with love.
One of Fr. Joe's (the Catholic priest here) favorite sayings from the Bible is, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” It's true, things may seem easy, but really, they're very hard.
Example #2: When my mom gave me an assignment for school, I wrote it in the same notebook that I had also written a letter encouraging the reader about the Catholic faith. I wanted to cut it out and put it in a bottle in the sea and hope someone would find it and read it, but my mom found it first. Father Joe had just called to ask if mom and dad could share a few words after Communion at a public school Mass the next day. You can guess what happened next. My mom said I should share that letter at the Mass. “Are you still going to share, too?” I asked my mom. I was nervous, especially if I was the only one to share. “We'll share a few words too, but I think the letter is perfect! Also, it will be more powerful from a young person since we will be talking to kids about your age.” Here was my chance, but I was nervous, I never had to talk in front of that big of a crowd like that. “Here's your chance, Meredith. You keep telling me how much you want to tell everyone how much God loves them!” mom told me. “I know, I'll at least pray about it.” I said.
Then we got a text that said we had to renew our visas that same day. “It's good you made that speech already,” dad told me. “I have to leave to C.D.O ( a city on another island) to renew our visas, and won't be able to give my talk! Just make sure you read it slowly, loudly and clearly, so that they can understand.” I felt pretty sure that I would speak, but at the end of the day, right before bed...
“Mooooom! I'm REALLY nervous!!!!!!”
“Don't worry about it, you don't have to read it, but it really would be better coming from a child.”
The next morning, after my mom and I were prayed over, we drove to the school where the chairs were set up outside to serve as pews. “Mom, I'm so nervous! I'm not gonna do it.”
“Meredith, it's ok. I would really like you to, but you don't have to-- no one is forcing you.” my mom reassured me kindly.
“Can you say it for me?” I asked my mom hopefully.
“It would be better if it came from you. Look,” she said, pointing to a sign hanging on a tree right in front of us. It read: “99% of failure comes from people who make excuses” I smiled, I guess God was telling me to do this. Fr. Joe called us to sit with the altar servers. “So you and Meredith are both going to speak.” he reminded us. We nodded. That, too, was a sign from God, I thought.
After Holy Communion, we introduced ourselves and mom spoke about being home wherever God sends us, because we know He has plans for us there. She said we weren't any happier in the U.S than we are here, which is true. She told them also that the ways that the world tells us to be happy(like having more material goods and outer beauty) are not true, but that God can make us happy.
When mom finished her talk, she handed me the microphone and I began in a shaky voice:
"Good morning! I would like to introduce myself. I am a Catholic missionary with my family, here in the Philippines, Sagay, Camiguin. I am eleven years old. My name is Meredith, and my nickname is Mi Mi. I want to encourage you to be faithful to Jesus. Being Catholic is a special privilege! Jesus established the Catholic Church and wants all of us to follow Him and to teach others to follow Him. One of the best ways to attract people to the faith is to be an example. At school or at work you could be good to those who are not good to you. Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people hate you, reject you, persecute you, and say you are evil, all because of the Son of Man.” Never be ashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ! He is everything you ever wanted and more! I hope these words lift you up and are encouraging to you on your journey home to heaven, Thank you!"
After we finished, Father whispered thank you to us and said that he almost cried at my message! He said he would have to give me and even Maddie more opportunities to speak. I felt encouraged because I thought I probably sounded terrible since I was shaking. I was glad I decided to read my message after all!
Example #3: Just a few days ago, a poor lady who had come recently came again to our house. We read the Bible to her and gave her some food. Then we decided to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, so we gave her a rosary. She thought it was for her to keep. Well, it turned out that it was my rosary that they had given her. I was sort of sad that I would have to give up my rosary, but then I saw her happy face. “This is for me?” she asked.
“Sure!” my mom said. She didn't know it was mine. I decided to let her have it, to make her happy. Now I'm so happy, because I gave it to her.
When we say we love God, He will challenge us to prove it in ways that are hard for us. I hope I can keep saying “yes” to all that He asks of me.
